Why do right-wing populist governments vote with the left at the EU?
This is a question that has perplexed many. Why is it that conservative countries like Hungary, Italy, and Poland almost uniformly stand with the rest of the European Union countries in supporting far-left measures? Are they strong-armed, bullied, afraid of losing friends, afraid of losing trade opportunities, afraid of retaliation from member states? In December, Hungary and Italy voted with the rest of the member states to support even the most radical social policies like abortion and gender ideology by keeping pro-gay/pro-trans language in EU documents. Although there are no written rules, EU member states try to follow a “common foreign policy.” Austin Ruse and Stefano Gennarini said in a C-Fam Friday Fax (Jan. 9), “The reality of European integration is such that European governments grow less willing and even less capable of developing their own positions. Their muscle of sovereignty seems to have atrophied over time.” Poland has good governments, but it rarely ventures into pro-life, pro-family positions during negotiations C-Fam reported last October. Ruse explains that standing up as a pro-life country means “ensuring that none of the abortion code words are accepted in the U.N. (or EU) documents” including “reproductive health, reproductive health and rights, sexual rights, sexual orientation and gender identity.” These code words are used to promote abortion and homosexual coupling in jurisdictions where it is still illegal. Being a pro-life country means “standing up to the Germans and French, (and) the Nordic countries.” It means breaking the EU consensus. Ruse calls on Poland, and other pro-life nations, to “have its own pro-life and pro-family foreign policy, regardless of what the EU decides, as any self-respecting sovereign state should do.” Ruse further asks that they “radicalize” and become like the United States. President Donald Trump and his team confronted the UN and the EU in defense of pro-life/pro-family issues. They lost that initial fight, but learned valuable lessons for the next time. Be brave, Be strong. Stand up for Life.
The U.K.’s “shambolic” assisted suicide bill
The Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults Bill has been termed “not fit for purpose and a bit of a shambles” by the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC). The Bill passed the lower House and is now in the House of Lords for debate and possible passage, but it is a contentious bill on both sides of the issue of assisted suicide and tempers run high at times. As SPUC reports, “After two days of intense debate with roughly 160 speakers, the consensus in the Houses of Lords is that the Leadbeater Bill cannot be passed in its current state.” (The Leadbeater Bill refers to Labour MP Kim Leadbeater, the backbencher in the lower House who introduced the Bill as a private member’s Bill which passed in the House of Commons by just 23 votes.) The debate has been called “a savage mauling” and the bill is described by its opponents as “badly framed, dangerous, and probably unworkable.” Lord Mackinlay was upset that, upon passage in the House, the MPs rejoiced with tears. He commented, “It is a Bill of Death. I found that quite bizarre and chilling.” Several peers spoke about the repercussions that legalising assisted suicide would have on the field of medicine. Baroness Fox argued that helping someone die would upend medicine’s understood meaning: “The Bill rewrites the role of doctors … it shakes the foundations of society’s attitudes to suicide—and yes, that is the accurate word—assisting someone to end their life is a criminal offense.” If the opposed peers manage to defeat the bill, it can be re-introduced, and per the Parliament’s Act it can become law even if it is rejected twice in the House of Lords in two consecutive parliamentary sessions. If the Bill passes into law, it would be recognized as “one of the biggest changes to social policy in Britain since abortion was legalized in 1967.”
Supporting his dying patients “through a sometimes difficult but beautiful time”
As a British chest specialist, Dr. Dominic Whitehouse was required to spend a few weeks in a hospice learning about palliative medicine. Twelve years later, he accepted an opening for a full-time doctor in the same local hospice. Ten years later he says, “It was the best move I ever made! … The main reward is the privilege of getting to know my dying patients and their families, becoming close to them and supporting them through their sometimes difficult but beautiful time.” He explains that “working in hospice medicine you realise that suffering is caused by psychological, spiritual and social issues as well as physical ones … and we become expert at helping our patients deal with these as well.” Dr. Whitehouse explains that the word “palliative” comes from the Latin word “pallium” which means “cloak” to describe how sometimes the issues mentioned above can get in the way of a peaceful death. Although a careful use of medications can sometimes be helpful, he says that just as important are “recognizing the dignity and personhood of the patients, befriending them, finding out what was and is important to them in their lives, as well as about their dying.” He said, “We listen to their fears and hopes … It could be helping to build bridges between estranged family members,” … or to be “reconciled to God after years of separation from their religion” … which “all contribute to a good death.” Dr. Whitehouse is strictly against assisted suicide and says that most palliative care doctors share his view. If it were to become law in Britain and palliative care facilities had to accept euthanasia patients, he would have to leave.
‘Babies go to Congress’
The “Babies Go to Congress” campaign might be one of the most powerful pro-life events on the D.C. Capitol Hill. Beginning in 2009, Heartbeat International has sent mothers and their children annually to visit both sides of the aisle in Congress to share their stories of how a crisis pregnancy centre somewhere in the U.S. has supported them during one of their most difficult times—pregnant and needing help to get through their pregnancy. The pregnancy centres are pro-life and are there to help moms to bring their unborn babies to birth. The centres have ultrasound machines to verify to the mom that she is carrying a tiny human being. A wide range of resources are available to help the mom navigate her way, by offering counseling, housing, and mentorship. Since 2009 more than 180 moms and their babies have gone to Congress and visited the offices of almost 400 Congressmen. Here are the stories of two women. Shawnte was pregnant with her third child and abandoned by the child’s father. Shawnte’s mother booked an appointment for her with a crisis pregnancy centre where she was helped to give birth to her baby, Bella. Today, Shawnte is an ordained minister who has a contract through the court system to help women in similar situations as she was. Bella went to Congress with her mom Shawnte. Katee, a sophomore in high school was pregnant and afraid to tell her parents. Time was running out so she finally told them her circumstances. Her mom took Katee to a pregnancy centre where she found love, support, and people willing to walk the rest of the road with her. Two weeks later, Katee delivered her son, Greyson, at 25 weeks. Now a high school senior, Katee participates in girls’ sports and is raising a happy, healthy toddler, while studying to finish high school. Greyson went to Congress with his mom Katee.
A nurse, a flight suit, and a preemie baby
Janice Berry, a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) nurse for 12 years at Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C., traded her hospital gown for a flight suit and was accepted as a NICU nurse aboard a transport helicopter to care for preemie babies being transported to Children’s National. A typical day begins with Berry and her team being briefed by the pilot about the aircraft and weather conditions that they can expect during the flight. She packs her usual supplies that include “a portable isolation box which is equipped with its own tiny seatbelt inside to keep the little passenger safe during turbulence.” If the weather is especially severe, the team will be transported by ambulance to pick up the preemie. Berry is advised if respiratory therapy will be needed. Occasionally a medical doctor will accompany her. When she lands at the location of the baby, she meets the family, and reassures them of what care will be provided to their fragile child, during the air flight and in the hospital where a NICU medical team will take charge of the child. During the transportation, Berry and her team also act as “safety officers, monitoring the weather and watching” for any safety concerns for their baby. She says that every flight is different, there is no ‘routine.’ She loves following up with the families and their babies where she sees “the full circle moment” of her charges. In 27 years, Berry has logged thousands of flights across D.C. airspace.
A mother’s love letter to her son
The following are excerpts of the letter that Elsa wrote to her son Fernando. Elsa was diagnosed 18 years ago with multiple sclerosis when her first two boys, Fernando and Alberto, were young. She kept the disease from them until an accident left her with a broken ankle and knee, which didn’t heal and she began to walk with a limp. And then with COVID her health quickly deteriorated. As her condition progressed, Fernando was always there with kind words, making the situation easier:
“You’ve made situations easier in the sweetest, strongest, most Fernando way possible—by making me feel the exact opposite of embarrassed. You’ve made me feel seen … No matter what kind of state I’ve been in … you’ve never once looked away.”
She describes the man he has become. “As the oldest (of three brothers) who shows the way. As a hard worker who has an unstoppable spirit. As a Cuban American athlete who represents his community. As a leader who lifts up and lends kindness … As a person of faith, who leans on God and trusts Him, even when it’s an uneasy road. You have a future that is so bright and a heart that is so full. I believe in you with every part of me.”
It was signed, “With all my love, Mami.”
Fernando, became the quarterback with the Indiana Hoosiers, accepted the Heisman Trophy on Dec. 13 as college football’s best player, and was named most valuable player in the championship game last month. He is now sought by NFL teams and will likely be the first pick in this year’s NFL draft. In his Heisman speech, Fernando addressed his mother: “You’re my light, you’re my why …Your sacrifices, courage, love—those have been my first playbook that I will carry through my entire life. You taught me that toughness can be quiet and strong. It’s choosing hope. It’s believing in yourself when the world doesn’t give you much reason to. Together you and I are rewriting what people think is impossible. I love you.”
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